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Blu & Exile Take The Meaning Of Soulful Hip-Hop To A New Place (Video)

One of the legends of twentieth-century music relates to the Delta Blues pioneer, Robert Johnson, who died at the age of 27 in 1938. According to the historic tale, the itinerant musician Johnson sold his soul to the devil down at the crossroads of Highway 49 and 61 in Clarksdale, Mississippi to... Read more

Kendrick Lamar Is Releasing A Collector’s Edition Of DAMN. With The Songs In Reverse Order

UPDATE: After confirming in August that his album DAMN. was meant to be played in both directions, a theory we posited in April, Kendrick Lamar appears to be releasing a collector's edition of the album that fully embraces Kid Capri's mandate to "put it in reverse." According to multiple sources,... Read more

U-God & DJ Green Lantern Release Full Bring Back God II Mixtape (Audio)

UPDATE: U-God and DJ Green Lantern have released Bring Back God II, available for full stream and free download. Additionally, the Wu-Tang Clan MC revealed his fifth solo album, Venom, will release March 6 through Babygrande Records.  Additionally, the Wu-Tang Clan member has announced a series of concerts for... Read more

Nipsey Hussle Is Releasing His 1st Major Label Album & It’s On His Terms (Video)

For more than a decade, Nipsey Hussle has had a unique relationship with record labels. From a peer class that seemed to covet contracts, "Neighborhood Nip" was among the first rappers to prove he did not need company backing. Like his musical content, the MC shows his intelligence and grit... Read more

Salute To LL Cool J. He Is Now Hip-Hop’s First Kennedy Center Honoree

Fans have waited four months since it announced, but Hip-Hop has its first Kennedy Center Honoree. LL Cool J was among the five artists celebrated at the honors this weekend in Washington, D.C. The MC, actor, host, and author born James Todd Smith attended the event at the John F.... Read more

Dame Dash Clarifies Reports Of Smacking Harvey Weinstein In The Past (Video)

Two different November Cam'ron verses have unearthed two very controversial stories. His mixtape The Program begins with an intro that reignited longstanding tensions between Cam' and Ma$e. "It's Killa" told a 1997 story that, at least according to Cam'ron, is the reason that Ma$e left a multi-platinum music career for a... Read more

Why Kendrick Lamar & JAY-Z May Destroy Each Others Chances At Winning Album Of The Year

With the 60th Grammy Award nominations being announced this week, and just a little under two months away from crowning the respective victors, the collective post-nomination conversation from those within the music industry and fans alike, has been incredibly rich in both impression and speculation. For the very first time... Read more

9th Wonder Details Producing Kendrick Lamar’s DUCKWORTH & Reveals Its Original Title (Video)

Working on a Kendrick Lamar record requires a vow of secrecy as demanding as any spy code, 9th Wonder shares in the latest Rap Radar Podcast. With longtime colleague and Roc Nation producer/engineer, Young Guru by his side, 9th speaks on how he made “DUCKWORTH.” the closer for this year's Grammy-nominated... Read more

DMX Performs For The First Time Ever With A Live Band (Video)

Many of DMX's hits had a distinct sound. Especially in his work with Swizz Beatz, X had a synthetic sound that pulled Rap music away from the sample-covers of the late 1990s. While the Yonkers, New York superstar certainly tried his hand at that style too, tracks like "Ruff Ryders... Read more

The Feds Want Martin Shkreli’s $2MM Wu-Tang Clan Album & His Copy Of Lil Wayne’s Carter 5

Pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli is currently incarcerated. He is awaiting a sentencing of up to 20 years for federal securities fraud. In the meantime, federal prosecutors today (December 1) motioned that the 34-year-old use assets to pay $7.4 million for his crimes. For Hip-Hop fans, those assets include a multi-million... Read more

A$AP Ferg Rocks A DJ Premier Beat As Hard As Anyone Has In Ages (Video)

Just under one month ago, DJ Premier and A$AP Ferg linked for "Our Streets." The hard-nosed Hip-Hop collaboration marked the relaunch of Payday Records, once home to JAY-Z, Jeru The Damaja, Showbiz & A.G., Group Home, WC, and more. Setting December off in style, Preemo and Ferg deliver the video,... Read more

Scarface Updates A Powerful Public Enemy Classic For The Chaos Of 2017 (Video)

Back in August, Scarface previewed some new music for Ambrosia For Heads and TBD. Backstage at his concert with upcoming EP collaborator DJ Quik, the Houston, Texas Hip-Hop legend played a new song from his phone that showed the Geto Boys O.G. reworking Public Enemy’s 1988 video single “Black Steel... Read more

Nas’ Original Demo For “It Ain’t Hard To Tell” Left No Doubt He Would Prevail (Audio)

It's not uncommon for rappers to commence in their teens or even become famous in those years. Rakim was 19 when Paid In Full was released. LL Cool J was 17 when his debut arrived. Big Boi and André 3000 from OutKast were teens when they started, as was Joey... Read more

Michael Rapaport Reveals Tupac, Leo & More Were Part Of The Original “Higher Learning” Cast (Video)

Michael Rapaport's acting career goes back nearly 30 years. In an array of roles, one of his most memorable is that of 1995's Higher Learning. In the John Singleton film about college and diversity, Rapaport played "Remy," a student who transforms into a skinhead. However, that role was first attached... Read more

Joey Bada$$ & G-Eazy Find Common Ground On A Soulful Statik Selektah Collabo (Audio)

As Q-Tip publicly aired frustrations for A Tribe Called Quest and We Got It From Here…Thank You For Your Service being omitted from this week's 2018 Grammy nominations, another artist with possible reason to be upset is Joey Bada$$. This year's ALL AMERIKKKAN BADA$$ is another heralded Hip-Hop album (and... Read more

Beastie Boys’ Ad-Rock Takes The Side Of The Women Accusing His Father Of Sexual Assault

Earlier today, Def Jam Records co-founder Russell Simmons announced that he will be stepping down from his current companies. The move comes after two accusers went public with accounts of sexual assault and rape in 1991. The same day, one of Simmons' most successful acts from his Def Jam days... Read more

Cam’ron Accuses Ma$e Of Lying & Doubles Down On His Disses (Video)

On Monday (November 27), Ma$e called into Ebro In The Morning to state his side of the latest chapter of beef with Cam'ron. The multi-platinum veteran accused his former Children Of The Corn band-mate of being "a bully," and compromising his income and his family's happiness by creating an allegedly... Read more

Russell Simmons Steps Down From His Companies Amid More Sexual Misconduct Allegations

One of Hip-Hop's original moguls is stepping down. Moments ago reports confirmed that Russell Simmons is disassociating himself from his companies. The move comes after two accusations of rape. The first published earlier this month in The Los Angeles Times. Model Keri Claussen Khalighi alleges that Simmons had sex without... Read more

The Game Releases A Grown Man Freestyle On His 38th Birthday (Audio)

Eleven years ago, The Game scored one of the most circulated hits of his career with "It's Okay (One Blood)." Featuring Junior Reid, the song cleared the table on a number of issues surrounding Jayceon Taylor's mid-2000s standing. He addressed his newfound distance with mentor Dr. Dre after just one... Read more

Daniel Caesar Is Another Star In A New Wave Of Complex R&B. Freudian Goes Deep (Video)

To coincide with his Grammy nominations for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Album, 22-year-old Canadian underground Soul singer, Daniel Caesar has released the moody visual that accompanies his song, “Freudian.” The Toronto native has had an unbeatable few years, receiving chart success and critical acclaim for his debut album... Read more

Tory Lanez Shows Why Drake Might NEVER Want To Battle Him With Bars (Video)

Tory Lanez is one of Canada's biggest global Hip-Hop stars. His full-length debut, 2016's I Told You was a confident wake-up call from the Toronto representative. The album was Top 5 debut in the United States proving that "the 6" is dominating the mainstream consciousness at a new high. Since... Read more

ScHoolBoy Q Joins TDE’s Next Breakout Star On A New Song. Meet SiR (Audio)

ScHoolboy Q offers super-smooth support to his Top Dawg Entertainment stable-mate on “Something Foreign” the latest single from Inglewood, California singer SiR released today. Late last year, SiR said that he wanted to combine the worlds of Hip-Hop and R&B in a way that was uniquely his own. “Right now, the... Read more

JAY-Z Details The Pain & Progress That Came From Making 4:44 & Lemonade (Video)

Published one day after he led the 2018 Grammy nominations with eight, JAY-Z's latest New York Times interview, with Dean Baquet, has been released. The 35-minute video conversation delves heavily into "The Story Of O.J.," one of the individual 4:44 moments for which Jay was nominated. Additionally, the two Black... Read more

Dave Chappelle & Kevin Hart Go Head-To-Head For Their First Comedy Grammy Award

In an incredible career, Dave Chappelle does not possess a Grammy Award. This morning, along with the news of JAY-Z and Kendrick Lamar leading nominations for the January 28 televised event, the legendary comedian was included in those up for an award. Chappelle is nominated for "Best Comedy Album" thanks... Read more

TiRon & Ayomari Ego-Trip With A Purpose On Their New Album (Audio)

Creating music together for nearly a decade now, TiRon & Ayomari find themselves entering the most confident and self-aware phase of their musical alliance with the release of their new album, WET: The Wonderful Ego Trip. Both California transplants (TiRon via Illinois and Ayomari via Georgia) who interestingly met while showcasing... Read more

Q-Tip is FURIOUS. He Calls Out The Grammys For Snubbing A Tribe Called Quest (Video)

Last February, A Tribe Called Quest were joined by Busta Rhymes and Anderson .Paak for a show-stealing Grammy Awards performance that included "We The People," "Movin Backwards," and splashes of "Can I Kick It?" and "Award Tour." Nine months later, neither A.T.C.Q. nor their final album (released one year ago... Read more

Joyner Lucas’ Video Shows The Raw Dialogue That Needs To Happen Between Blacks & Whites

Joyner Lucas is one of the most cutting-edge MCs to emerge in recent years. The Worcester, Massachusetts native was strongly co-signed by Busta Rhymes, a few years ago. In June, the past BET Hip Hop Cypher participant released 508-507-2209. However, he keeps dropping technically-advanced, thought-provoking bars. Video "I'm Not Racist"... Read more

DJ Muggs Lays Down One Wild Beat For Meyhem Lauren & Then Directs The Video

DJ Muggs & Meyhem Lauren's Gems From The Equinox is one of the most exciting Soul Assassins releases in years. The Cypress Hill co-founder and the Outdoorsmen MC linked up for 11 hardcore Hip-Hop tracks about stylin' on lesser rappers, "Rotten Apple" imagery, and respecting the G-Code. The album opens... Read more

Jay Rock Shows Again Why He’s One Of The Best Guest MCs Of His Generation (Video)

Although he was the first artist on the powerhouse record label that is TDE, Jay Rock's output has been relatively sparse, compared to that of Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q and others in the family. Rock has only released one album in the last six years, 2015's stellar 90059. The Watts... Read more

JAY-Z & Kendrick Lamar Dominate 2018 Grammy Nominations

The nominations for the 60th Grammy Awards are in. The event returns to New York City for the first time in 15 years and will broadcast on January 28, 2018. As many Hip-Hop Heads predicted, JAY-Z and Kendrick Lamar receive a plethora of consideration, for 4:44 and DAMN., respectively. Jay,... Read more

Timbaland Describes His Near Fatal Overdose With Oxycontin

Timbaland has been tied to some of Hip-Hop's most beloved songs. Besides his sprawling solo catalog and work with Magoo, Timothy Mosley has supplied unforgettable sounds for JAY-Z, Missy Elliott, Ludacris, Petey Pablo, and Bubba Sparxxx. The Virginia producer/rapper who now calls Miami, Florida his home is in the midst... Read more

Ma$e Explains Why He Dissed Cam’ron & Says He Beat Him By A “Landslide” (Video)

On Black Friday (November 24), Ma$e tried to put the lights out on Cam'ron. The former Bad Boy Records superstar and onetime G-Unit artist laid into his past collaborator and Children Of The Corn band-mate for four minutes straight on "The Oracle." His diss used JAY-Z's "Blueprint 2" instrumental (produced... Read more

Wu-Tang Clan Join SWV For A Soul Train Tribute That Will Leave You Weak At The Knees (Video)

The 2017 Soul Train Awards aired tonight on BET. Taped at the Orleans theater in Las Vegas, the event was a star-studded affair. Hosted for the third straight time by Erykah Badu, the show featured appearances by BBD, 112, Toni Braxton, Guy, Bilal, Faith Evans and more. From the start,... Read more

All Eyez On The Score: A Breakdown Of The Beef Between Tupac & The Fugees (Video)

On February 13, 1996, two of the biggest, and best-selling Hip-Hop albums of all time were released. That Tuesday, Tupac Shakur made his Death Row Records debut with double LP All Eyez On Me. The Fugees followed a tepid response to 1994's Blunted On Reality with a critical and commercial... Read more

Cam’ron Replies To Ma$e’s Disses Point For Point. He’s Serving Beef Raw For Dinner (Audio)

It has been less than 48 hours since Ma$e took his beef with Cam'ron to the next level. Friday's (November 24) "The Oracle" found "Murda Ma$e" dissing his former Children Of The Corn band-mate and longtime collaborator "Killa Cam" for four straight minutes, and accusing the fellow Harlem native of... Read more

Morris Day & Snoop Dogg Team Up On A Funky New Song & It’s A Players Ball (Audio)

Morris Day is a legend of Funk and R&B that has not done much in the way of Hip-Hop collaboration. Slug & Murs named a song after The Time front-man, and he's been shouted out in legions of lyrics (from D12 to Nas, Wale to Jean Grae). However, short of... Read more

Kool G Rap Explains How Record Label Politics Made Him Lose Like The Ill Street Blues

Twenty-five years ago today, Kool G Rap & DJ Polo released their third album, Live & Let Die. Featuring singles "Ill Street Blues" and "On The Run," the Cold Chillin' Records release marked a shift for the Queens, New York MC and DJ team. The release would be the final... Read more

DJ Jazzy Jeff’s 1-Hour Holiday Mix Puts Heads In The Spirit…To Move (Audio)

For the last eight years, DJ Jazzy Jeff & MICK have given music Heads one of the treats of the warm months, with their Summertime mixtape series. Now, the Grammy Award-winning DJ/producer has just what the people need for the holiday season. West Philadelphia's star mix-master hits Heads off with... Read more

Ma$e Disses Cam’ron For 4 Straight Minutes & He Gets Absolutely Savage (Audio)

Twenty years ago, Ma$e and Cam'ron were band-mates in Children Of The Corn. Both artists are from neighboring blocks in Harlem, and also played basketball together in their youth. As New York's Rap community found new stars by the late 1990s, each MC signed major solo deals. In fall of... Read more

Fabolous & Jadakiss’ Friday On Elm Street Album Is Filled With Razor Sharp Rhymes (Audio)

One of Hip-Hop's most long-awaited projects releases today (November 24). Fabolous & Jadakiss partner for Friday On Elm Street, a collaborative album from the two New York City veteran lyricists (each signed to Def Jam Records) that has been teased for nearly three years. The project (once thought to be... Read more

By All Means Necessary: How Boogie Down Productions Was Formed Against All Odds (Video)

"You could call a man a bum with disgust on your morning run. 'Cause he lives outside in the street, you don't know this, but you've failed to realize that the one you so despise reflects yourself  'cause every Black man is homeless." KRS-One has never hidden the fact that... Read more

RZA Believes ODB’s Death Could Have Been Prevented & Regrets Not Doing More To Save Him (Video)

RZA stopped by the brand new Touré Show this week in what inevitably evolved into one of the more transparent and insightful discussions of the iconic Wu-Tang Abbott’s recent past. Touré's podcast, which just launched on November 15, focuses on diving into the mindsets and paths of accomplishment of various celebrated and successful individuals.... Read more

MICK Has Created The Ultimate DJ Premier x JAY-Z Mashup Mix (Audio)

DJ Premier and JAY-Z have a history that goes back more than 20 years. Preemo was a major contributor on Jay's debut, Reasonable Doubt, the album Jay still contends is the finest work he ever created. Premier would go on to have a presence on Jay's next 3 albums, but... Read more

Vic Mensa’s Latest Performance Makes A Powerful Plea For World Peace (Video)

In between a show in Cleveland and heading onto Quebec as the sole opening act on JAY-Z’s 4:44 Tour, Vic Mensa stopped by the Ed Sullivan Theater in Manhattan for an impassioned performance of "We Could be Free" on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. Toting a string quartet, pianist,... Read more

Sweet Love: Why Andre 3000 & Kendrick Lamar Are Infatuated With Anita Baker (Video)

Several high profile R&B acts like Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown, Loose Ends, and Soul II Soul made music in the 1980s that, through sampling, reference, and homage, can be heard in contemporary Hip-Hop. Babies of the 1980s, '90s, and early 2000s were inevitably raised on Urban Contemporary radio which housed... Read more

Talib Kweli & Jay Electronica Reunite. Times Are Hard & So Are Their Rhymes (Audio)

Less than one week ago, Talib Kweli released Radio Silence. Following April's The Seven collaborative EP with Styles P, Kwe' drops his first full-length solo effort in two years. This go-round features Anderson .Paak on latest video single "Traveling Light," along with Rick Ross and Freestyle Fellowship/Project Blowed member Myka... Read more

Killah Priest Attacks ’70s Breakbeats On A Mixtape Featuring Ghostface & Raekwon (Audio)

The whole Wu-Tang Clan family has a deep respect for Hip-Hop's earliest days. RZA's production, and the swarm's rhyme routines often call back to the park-jams and pioneering days of the culture. That's true of Killah Priest, the former breakout star of Sunz Of Man and a Brooklyn, New York... Read more

ScienZe Tells A Modern Day Tale Of Love & Prosperity (Video)

Hailing from Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Dope League MC, ScienZe, has been garnering attention from Hip-Hop Heads since his initial releases in 2010. A true student of music, the mindful songwriter validated both his adoration of and devotion to Hip-Hop on his debut project, Ode 2 Dilla, a prudent 19-track tribute to the legendary Detroit producer. As... Read more

Steve Stoute Explains Why He Took Nas From The Underground To The Mainstream (Video)

Music industry veteran Steve Stoute recently launched UnitedMasters, a company that allows musicians to market directly to their fans across digital platforms. The service promotes artists keeping their master recordings and provides resources for the modern market that once seemed reserved for major label acts. Stoute is the latest guest... Read more

Stalley Has Left MMG & His Sway Freestyle Shows He’s Self-Made (Video)

Ohio MC Stalley has spent much of his career attached to movements. Most notably, in his days with Rick Ross' MMG squad, he was part of three Top 5 Maybach Music Group Self-Made compilations in the early 2010s. The MC followed with his own Top 40 debut Ohio in 2014.... Read more